Shoe-fastening.



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ZENSHIRO SUZUKI, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

SHOE-FASTEN ING.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 19, 1917,

Application filed July 17, 1916. Serial No. 109,658.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, Znnsnnio SUZUKI, a subject of the Emperor of Japan, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Shoe-Fastening, of which the following is a specification. l

This invention relates to improvements in shoes and more particularly to fastenings therefor.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a shoe fastening for shoes of theJ button type in which the uppers overlap Where fastened, which is exceptionally neat, concealed from view and not uncomfortable to the wearer.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the shoe provided with my improved fastening.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken through the shoe where fastened.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken through the shoe where fastened.v

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail ,sectional view of the fastening.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of one of the fastening members.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the fastening members shown in Fig. 7, and

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the other of the fastening members.

Referring to the drawings, l designates as an entirety a shoe in which the upper 2 is open down the front and provides overlapping portions 3 and 4, the portion 4 overlapping the one 3. Secured along the edge of the portion 4 on the inner side thereof is a plurality of tongues 5 which are adapted to coperate with keepers 6 therefor, the latter being secured to the portion 3 of the upper along the outer side and near the edge thereof.

Each of the tongues 5 is formed of a flat piece of metal which is rounded and reduced as at 7 at one end, and may have beaded edges 8 if so desired. Each tongue is provided with small openings 9 at the unreduced end thereof to provide for the sewing or fastening of the tongue to the shoe and is fastened so that it may be pulled away from the portion 4 sufficiently to permit its insertion into the keeper 6. Upon the inner face of each tongue intermediate the ends thereof is formed a rounded knob or protuberance 10. These tongues are secured in close relation to one another, but sufficiently spaced apart to enable the manipulation thereof in fastening the shoe. n

Each of the `keepers 6 is provided with offset ends that are fastened to the portion 3 as are the tongues 5, and is therefore spaced from the portion 3 of the shoe sufficiently to permit the tongues 5 to be inserted between them and the shoe. p

The offset ends are formed by providing the flanges 11 at the ends of the keepers which are in the form of flat metal plates of rectangular outline, and projecting laterally from the flanges 11 are fianges 12 having a series of apertures 13 therein. By means of these apertures 13 the keepers may be sewed or otherwise secured to the shoe. Each keeper is provided intermediate its ends and adjacent to one edge with a struckout or bulged portion 14 which opens along one edgeof the keeper. The knobs on the tongues 5 engage within the portion 14 and lock the tongues in coperation with the keepers.

To fasten the shoe the portion 4 is brought into overlying relation to the portion 3 of the upper and the tongues 5 are insertedl between the keepers 6 and opposed face of the portion 3, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings. The knobs or protuberances 10 upon the tongues 5 are forced between the portion 3 of the shoe andthe keeper 6 and will snap into engagement with the portions 14 of the keeper so that the fastenings will be locked.

To unfasten the shoe the tongues 5 are pulled out from coperation with the keepers 6 into position shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The force required to unfasten the shoe is greater than that which will be exerted as a strain when the shoe is on the foot, and the fastenings will therefore serve to securely hold the shoe fastened upon the foot and will not cause the upper to bulge or prove unsightly and uncomfortable.

One of the most essential features of this invention is that the fastening elements lie flat and in close relation to the shoe. Another advantage over the old and well known fastenings for shoes is that with my improved fastening the shoes may be secured with much more ease and rapidity.

I claim:

1. A fastening comprising a flat tongue provided intermediate its ends with a protuberance and adapted to be secured at one end to the uppers of u shoe, a keeper tor eooperation with the tongue and having its endeI otiset and adapted to he secured to u shoe, yuid tongue adapted to extend under the keeper, Suid keeper huving u Struck-out portion formed interinei'iinte its end and eonnnunieuting with the longitudinzd edge thereoll 'furthest removed from the tongue, said Struetsout portion being spaced from the side ot' the llfeeper opposed to the tongue7 Said protuherauice adapted to enguge in Suid struek-out portion.

2. fastening comprising :t Hut tongue huring u protuherzuiee Vtoi-ined intermediate the ends thereof und provided utone end with openings to receive .fastening menne,

smid tongue udztpted to be secured to a shoe und haring its tree end rounded un d reduced. u keeper adapted to he Secured to the Shoe und having n struck-out portion intermediate the ends thereof land adapted to reeeire the protuberunee on the tongue. sind struck-out portion being spaced from the edge of the keeper that is opposed to the tongue and opening ont upon the other longitndinzd edge ot' the keeper.

Signed ut Los Angeles, Czditenfnin., thiS ist duy ot' July 1916.

ZESURO SUZUKI. vWit essere:

Cime. J. CHUNN, M.\S.\Yoeni KOJIMA.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

